Colin Kaepernick is still without a job in the NFL.
The originator of the anti-American anthem protests that severely damaged the league is supposedly waiting for an opportunity to make a comeback.
But one retired quarterback made it clear why Kaepernick may never get another chance to play in the NFL.
Retired quarterback Tony Romo had an unconventional route to becoming a star quarterback.
Romo was an undrafted free agent out of Eastern Illinois, a lower-division I school. Hall of Fame coach and general manager Bill Parcells saw something in Romo and brought him in to be a backup for the Dallas Cowboys.
Romo quietly bided his time, and eventually got a chance to become the starter. Once he did, Romo became a prolific passer who very well could end up in Canton himself.
Since retiring after the 2016 season, Romo has become arguably the best football color commentator. His intricate knowledge of the game allows him to call out plays in advance with uncanny accuracy.
Romo’s path to stardom and his current gig as an analyst makes him especially qualified to comment on the Colin Kaepernick episode that has festered for two years.
Romo believed Kaepernick was good enough to play in the NFL but pointed out that the league does not like distractions in its backup quarterbacks.
Romo said:
“As far as being a backup in the National Football League, you really don’t want a lot of press for your backup. It just makes it difficult to bring them in, unless they’re your starter. It’s okay if it’s the starter because they’re going to get talked about anyway.”
This is undoubtedly true. Quarterback is the most important and fragile position in all of sports. The last thing any teams wants is controversy at the quarterback spot.
Kaepernick would bring that in spades. He’s the most talked-about football player of the past two years, and he wasn’t even on a roster last season.
The undue attention would be unbearable for a franchise that’s simply trying to win games, not be at the epicenter of a media storm.
There’s also the fact Kaepernick is incredibly divisive. Several teams apologized to their season ticket holders for the ugly anthem displays that turned them off.
The New York Giants’ owner said he’d never received more negative letters than when Kaepernick was merely mentioned as a possible acquisition.
Leftists and mainstream media members showered Kaepernick with praise, which only emboldened his anti-American stance.
Finally, Kaepernick is mired in a lawsuit against the NFL for colluding to keep him out of the league.
For these reasons, Kaepernick is a total non-starter as a backup option. Though he might have the ability to be a backup, he is nowhere near good enough to justify the impending media circus and fan backlash that would ensue.
Tony Romo is absolutely correct in his assessment of the situation. If Kaepernick is truly serious about getting back into the league, he would have to make several concessions.
But Kaepernick is too enamored with being a civil rights icon to the hard left, so don’t expect him to placate the NFL owners.
For this reason, Kaepernick will continue to be a martyr to the left and an overwhelming distraction with underwhelming on-field results to everyone else.